Press Releases, 9/2/2013 | Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

H.E. Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations to visit Finland

Press release 184/2013
2.9.2013

H.E. Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz al-Nasser, the UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), will visit Finland from 2 to 6 September. H.E. Ambassador Al-Nasser transferred to his current position at the beginning of 2013 from the position of the President of the Sixty-Sixth Session of the United Nations General Assembly. Prior to that, he had served as Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations.

Al-Nasser visited Finland earlier in October 2011 in his capacity as the President of the United Nations General Assembly. The first High Representative for the Alliance, President Jorge Sampaio, the former President of Portugal, visited Finland in 2011.

During his visit, High Representative Al-Nasser will discuss with Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja and Minister for International Development Heidi Hautala. In addition, Al-Nasser will meet President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö and Speaker of the Finnish Parliament Eero Heinäluoma, as well as Finnish stakeholders of the Alliance, media representatives and authorities.

UNAOC has been operating for about seven years under the UN Secretary-General. The Alliance of Civilizations was created at the initiative of Spain and Turkey. For example, terrorist strikes performed even in European capitals acted as incentive for its establishment. The Alliance is tasked with promoting dialogue between the Islamic and “Western" worlds. The focus areas of operations include youth, media, migration and the relevant education and training.

The High Representative Al-Nasser will speak at the University of Helsinki on 4 September at 4:00 pm (Main Building, Hall 10) on the theme ”Dialogue between cultures and Nordic societies – How the Alliance of Civilizations could enrich Nordic involvement”. The event is open for everyone.